Disney World Might Just Be Planning A Future Fifth Theme Park, Y’all

Nobody panic, but if a dream is a wish your heart makes, maybe our collective one is coming true. According to a report from The Street, a business and finance publication, Disney World and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have jointly approved potential new development on roughly 850 acres of Disney’s sprawling 43-square-mile property in Florida.

Disney has not made any announcements about a new park, to be clear, but there are a lot of signs pointing to the possibility that they may be planning one. Here’s what we know.

What’s the scoop on this potential development?

The CFTOD published a 406-page document, the “Comprehensive Plan 2045,” which will guide the org’s future decisions regarding land use and infrastructure in the coming decades. It provides insight into upgrades and new development that may occur, and the language around Disney’s property specifically suggests that the theme park giant may be readying itself to open a fifth standalone park.

The plan states that the currently undeveloped land owned by Walt Disney World “could support ‘one major and two minor theme parks,’” per The Street. The area in question is approximately 850 acres. The document is clear that there are no plans currently in review and this does not constitute permission to begin construction. But it does mark the end of years of squabbling and lawsuits between Disney and the CFTOD, and charts a potential path forward should Disney decide it’s time to respond to Epic Universe.

How big is Disney World right now, and what do we know for sure about its future expansion?

Disney’s massive footprint includes four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios), two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), the Disney Springs shopping and dining destination, and more than 20 resort hotels. There have been countless expansions and new attractions added to these parks in recent years, like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and the TRON Lightcycle coaster to name just a few.

Just two years ago at D23, Disney’s annual fan expo where they often reveal their biggest future plans, they shared that a number of new lands are coming to the existing parks, Scary Mommy reported. From Cars- and Monsters, Inc.-themed lands for the Pixar lovers to an entire villain-themed area honoring all the iconic baddies in their catalog, the new additions are plenty exciting on their own.

But ever since Universal Orlando opened the gates to Epic Universe, theme park lovers have wondered if Disney World would counter with a new park of their own. And since this year’s D23 takes place from Aug. 14 to 16, it’s natural to wonder just how big this year’s announcements may be.

As bona fide Disney lovers ourselves, we here at Scary Mommy will be keeping a close eye on this story.